By Myra Bean

With just over two weeks left in the season, the local basketball teams are trying to raise or solidify their positions in their respective districts.

The South Panola teams stepped away from district action Tuesday and traveled to Saltillo where they swept the Saltillo Tigers. The Lady Tigers (10-3 overall, 3-0 district) won 50-29.

South Panola held Saltillo to five points in the first quarter. At the half, South Panola led 26-15. They built on the lead in the second half outscoring Saltillo 24-14 to secure the win.

Chasity Kearney scored half of the points for the Lady Tigers even though she was feeling “under the weather,” according to head coach Ralph Stallings.

“We had two or three feeling under the weather,” Stallings said. “We should have beat them by 40.”

Kearney led in scoring with 25 points, followed by Dorian Winfield with 13. Other scorers include Jasmine Houston, 4 points; Christa Brown and Jelisa Lyons, 3 points each; and Brittany Moore, 2 points.

The South Panola boys (6-7 overall, 0-3 district) won 71-55 with three players scoring in double figures. Nick Brassell was the leading scorer with 24 points, followed by Antonio Jones with 22 and Terrance Lamar 15.

The teams were close following the first quarter with South Panola in the lead 14-13. At the half the Tigers had pulled away 30-22.

South Panola outscored Saltillo 43-31 in the second half for the win.

The Tiger teams have a big game at home tonight in a district rematch from last Friday against Columbus.

The teams split with the Falcons last week. The Lady Tigers won 63-39 and the boys lost 56-50. Tiger boys head coach Charlie Howard is optimistic if they take care of the ball they can pull out this necessary district win.

Game time is 6 p.m.

Next week is the last week of district play for South Panola until the Region 2-6A tournament to be held in Tupelo this year, February 9 and 11.

The Tiger teams will play both games on the road next week. Tuesday they will travel to Tupelo and Friday to Starkville for games beginning at 6 p.m.